Innsbruck: Old Town, Bergisel and Nordkette
Accommodation in Innsbruck
Innsbruck combines urban culture with a strong connection to mountain sports. Visitors can ski, snowboard, freeride, hike and climb on the Nordkette. At the same time, richly decorated Baroque and Rococo buildings shape the Old Town.
If you are looking for a ski hotel in Innsbruck, the link between the city and the mountains can be an important part of your planning. The Nordkettenbahnen cable cars take you from the city centre to “Top of Innsbruck” in about 30 minutes. This is an approximate time and may vary depending on operations.
Nordkette: Mountain Sports and High Altitude
The Hafelekar on the Nordkette is 2,300 metres above sea level and within Innsbruck’s city limits. Activities on the Nordkette include snow sports as well as hiking and climbing. Operations are seasonal, so plan according to your travel dates and the latest operating information.
The journey time of about 30 minutes provides a point of reference for travel between the city centre and “Top of Innsbruck”, but it is not a travel time from any particular accommodation. When choosing a ski hotel, it is helpful to keep this distinction in mind: the connection to the mountain destination and the hotel’s location are two separate aspects of your daily planning.
Old Town: Baroque, Rococo and the Golden Roof
Innsbruck’s Old Town is characterised by richly decorated Baroque and Rococo buildings. These include the Helbling House on Herzog-Friedrich-Straße. The Golden Roof offers a particularly vivid example of the area’s design: this ornate bay window is located in the heart of the Old Town and is decorated with 2,657 gilded copper shingles, as well as frescoes and reliefs.
The building’s history also includes its commission. Emperor Maximilian I had the Golden Roof built between 1497 and 1500.
Bergisel and Historical Perspectives
The Giant Panorama, Tyrol’s largest painted work of art, is located in the TIROL PANORAMA with the Kaiserjäger Museum. It depicts the third “Battle of Bergisel” in 1809. Bergisel is also associated with the Tyroleans’ struggle for freedom under their leader Andreas Hofer about 200 years ago.
The Bergisel Ski Jump in Innsbruck offers a different focus. It was rebuilt in 2001 and combines the inrun, tower and tower head into a single architectural work. The Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid was responsible for the design. This landmark adds an architectural dimension to Innsbruck’s historic sights.
Other Places in the City
In the Imperial Palace, the Giant Hall displays full-length portraits of Maria Theresa, Francis Stephen of Lorraine and their 16 children. St. James’s Cathedral is part of the Way of St. James, an important medieval Christian pilgrimage route.
The Court Garden is located in the heart of Innsbruck and adds a green space in the city to its cultural attractions. Together with the Old Town, Bergisel and the Nordkette, it makes for a stay in which urban history and mountain activities offer different points of focus.
Discover more destinations: Igls.
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